You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.' - John 8:32
VOL. 70, NO.31 JULY 30, 2021 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS HOME DELIVERY $39/YEAR
FREE IN PARISHES & ON NEWSSTANDS SEE ORDAIN , 6 SEE RISE , 7
BY TANYA CONNOR THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS
Parishes honored senior citizens in a variety of ways for the first World Day for Grandpar- ents and the Elderly this week. And, it was a natural fit for one popular novena to incorpo- rate the observance into its schedule. Pope Francis announced this Church-wide celebration last January, and scheduled it to be held annually on the fourth Sunday of July, near the July 26 feast of SS. Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. "I am with you always" (Mt 28:20), the theme Pope Francis chose for the inaugural com- memoration of the new observance, was this year's theme for the Novena to St. Anne at St. Anne Shrine in Sturbridge, a novena flier said. One reason Pope Francis instituted this World Day was to show that grandparents and the elderly will not be left alone, despite today's throw-away cul- ture where they are often the first to be discarded, said Assumption- ist Father Alex Castro, opening the novena July 18. Director of the shrine and pastor of St. Anne and St. Patrick Parish, where the shrine is located, he spoke about the older genera- tion's vocation to pass on the faith. As parents and grandparents, we oftentimes feel that what our kids need most from us is clear answers, clear direction, and a set of rules and guidelines to fol- low," parish youth minister Joseph Krans said in a talk at the youth Mass July 23. "Although sometimes necessary, this is not what they need most from us," he said. They need to ex- perience Christ's love in and through us. You have so much to offer them - Your true and authentic self," Mr. Krans told listen- ers. Youth need to know "we too experience fear, anxiety, emptiness, pain - questioning" and that God "accompanies us on our jour- ney." Closing the novena on the July 26 feast day, Father Dennis Gallagher, provincial of the North American Province of the Augustinians of the Assumption, said that what Pope Fran- cis did in calling for this observance "will help to restore our humanity and rebalance our life." When one segment of the human family is diminished, the whole human family is, Fa- ther Gallagher said. He said he thinks one present-day idol is thinking of ourselves as autonomous individ- uals" with no need for dependence on others or even gratitude. Then the elderly and grand- parents get marginalized and are considered
Parishes bless elders on new day dedicated to them
Sometimes it is hard to ask for help
BY BILL DOYLE CFP CORRESPONDENT
Myriam Kant's husband lost his job and she was a stay-at-home mother so she turned to the food pantry at St. Anne Church in Shrewsbury to help feed their three children. It wasn't an easy decision, however. She felt humiliated. I wanted to dig a hole and climb in," she said. She didn't even tell her husband and she made sure to pick up groceries at the pantry only during the darkness of night so no one would recognize her. But the groceries helped get her family through those tough times about 10 years ago. Soon afterward, she began volunteer- ing at the pantry and for the past two years she's served as volunteer co-manag- er with Melinda Nies. Of the pantry's 10 volunteers, only Mrs. Nies hasn't been a client. What I have is a group of people who want to give back," Mrs. Nies said. "They needed help and they want to give back." The pantry, located in the basement of St. Anne Church, is open from 10:30 a.m. until noon on Mondays and usually dis- tributes free food to 130 clients. The church's long-time thrift shop closed in June after losing its corporate sponsors and no longer financially sup- ports the food pantry. So the pantry must now rely on other sources of revenue. Mrs. Nies estimated that the pantry re- ceives about 60 percent of its food from the Worcester County Food Bank, 30 percent from Trader Joe's and 10 percent from the community. The pantry also receives assistance from St. Mary Church and the First Con- gregational Church, Mormon missionar-
Transitional deacon ordination set for Aug. 7
Her faith fuels her to serve foster children
Michael David Hoye is to be ordained to the transi- tional diaconate by Bishop McManus at a 10 a.m. Mass Aug. 7 at St. Mary Parish in Uxbridge, where he has been serving as a seminar- ian. A public reception fol- lows in the church hall. He is to assist at Mass as a deacon at 11 a.m. Aug. 8 at St. Mary's in Uxbridge. Mr. Hoye is the young- est of seven children of David M. and Joan (Lees) Hoye. He was born on Nov. 18, 1993, in Worcester. His home parish is St. Mark in Sutton. He attended Assump- tion Elementary School in Millbury, Holy Name Cen- tral Catholic Junior/Senior High School in Worcester and Assumption Univer- sity, where he studied philosophy and theology, receiving his bachelor's de- gree in 2016. He went to Theological College at The Catholic Uni- versity of America, then on Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." - Matthew 25:40
BY CHRISTINA GALEONE
CFP CORRESPONDENT
Growing up and today, I often hear Matthew 25:40 echoing in my mind and heart," said Sarah Bal- diga, the co-founder and executive director of Rise Above, a nonprofit serving children in foster care. "I try to do my work in a way that children and fami- lies experience joy, hope and Christ through Rise Above." Founded in 2009, Rise Above is a Northbridge- based nonprofit that has served more than 7,500 kids since it began. On its website, www.wer- iseabove. org, the nonprofit states that it's "dedicat- ed to pro- viding Mas- sachusetts children in foster care with enriching activities, oppor- tunities and experiences." Ms. Baldiga said, "We do that by funding individual requests for music lessons, team sports fees, dance lessons, amusement park tickets, prom expenses, bikes, laptops and more." A parishioner of St. Gabriel the Archangel Par- ish in Upton, Ms. Baldiga received her bachelor's de- SEE ELDERS , 7
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BILL DOYLE CFP CORRESPONDENT
Melinda Nies (left) and Myriam Kant stock the St. Anne pantry shelves in the church basement with groceries donated by Target. Throughout the summer The Catholic Free Press will feature stories about how our parishes give back to the greater community, including their efforts to address ongoing food insecurity in Central Massachusetts. Hoye a S U i e c D
TANYA CONNOR CFP
Photos of worshippers' family members and deceased parishioners were displayed at St. Anne Shrine during the Novena to St. Anne. Here Father Alex Castro stands near photos of his parents and a parishioner, among others. Baldiga b it w i o n s it e
Mission: Serve people with dignity
BY BILL DOYLE CFP CORRESPONDENT
Douglas Food Pantry coordinator Nancy Norberg feels connected to her clients. Mrs. Norberg's husband passed away 10 years ago, forcing her to support herself and their four children. The hardest thing for me was to ask for help," she said, "because I was always the one giving the help. So I think I feel very compassionate toward people who have to ask for help and I'm very happy to be able to help." In addition to coordinating the food pantry at St. Denis Church in Douglas, Mrs. Norberg picked up a second job at Jackman Funeral Home. Assistance from extended family prevented her from hav- ing to rely on a food pantry. A lot of these people," she said of the pantry's clients, "don't have family to rely on and I'm so fortunate that I did have family that I could turn to for help." The food pantry in the basement of the St. Denis Church rectory is open from 4-6 p.m. Mondays and from 1-3 p.m. Wednes- days, and serves 70-80 families. Our main mission is to serve people with dignity," Mrs. Norberg said. "It's hard for people to come and admit that they need help so we try to make it as easy as possible." During the pandemic, masked and vaccinated clients are allowed to enter the pantry, but only the volunteers can
'The hardest thing for me was to ask for help , because I was always the one giving the help.'
Nancy Norberg
Douglas Food Pantry coordinator
'As parents and grandparents, we oftentimes feel that what our kids need most from us is clear answers, clear direction, and a set of rules and guidelines to follow.'
Joseph Krans
St. Anne youth minister
SEE PANTRY , 6 SEE FOOD , 6
PARISH FOOD PANTRIES OFFER HELPING HANDI
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